About the Founder, Nazila Khalkhali

Linguist, Translator, Educator, Researcher, and Podcaster

Professional Profile

Nazila Khalkhali is a linguist, translator, interpreter (English-French-Persian/Farsi), language teacher (English, Persian/Farsi), researcher in Iranian studies, mythologist, and podcaster.

Education

  • 2021: 120 Hours Advanced TESOL Certificate for Online Teaching
  • 2012: Language Teaching (credited summer course), New York University
  • 2012: Master of Translation Studies, University of Ottawa, Canada
  • 1994: Master of General Linguistics, University of Tehran, Iran
  • 1992: Revision and Editing Course, Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • 1988: Bachelor of Arts Degree in French Translation, University of Alzahra, Tehran, Iran

Professional Experience

Language Instructor (2018–present, various Canadian & American language institutes, colleges, universities)

  • Instruct students in oral and written English communication.
  • Plan, prepare, and deliver resources and materials to a range of English classes
  • Assess student work and provide constructive feedback.
  • Prepare coursework and instructional materials.
  • Develop students’ writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills.
  • Provide guidance for job interview preparation.
  • Facilitate interaction with native speakers.

Multicultural Book Club (2015–2020, Ottawa Public Library, Main Branch)

  • Facilitated a monthly book group to discuss novels and their translations into other languages.
  • Selected, prepared PowerPoint presentations, and presented books to the group.
  • Engaged Ottawa-based communities to participate in the book club.
  • Explored cultural perspectives through the translation of prominent novels.
  • Produced a podcast to archive book club discussions.

Persian Language Instructor (2008–present, Ottawa, Canada)

  • Teaching Persian to non-native students.
  • Emphasize the development of cultural understanding.
  • Plan and prepare resources and materials for students at different levels.
  • Highlight the importance of contextual understanding in language acquisition.
  • Translate texts between Persian and English.

English-Persian Translator (2013–present, BTB, Translation Bureau, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

  • Translate documents and papers from Persian to English.
  • Review and edit translations by comparing primary texts and their translated versions.

Research Assistant (2007–2009, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada)

  • Contributed to research and publications in linguistics and translation.
  • Participated in the Electronic Resources in Translation Technologies (CERTT) project
  • developed a terminology database for English and French.
  • Worked on the Electronic Resources in Translation Technologies (CERTT) project,
  • Developed a database of terminology for English and French.

UNESCO Translator/Reviser (1999–2005, UNESCO, Tehran, Iran)

  • Translated and edited articles for educational monthly and seasonal publications.

Dictionnaire des Œuvres (1989–1994)

  • Collaborated with a team of translators and revisers.
  • Translated the encyclopedia from French to Persian (ﻓﺮھﻨﮓ آﺛﺎر Tehran: Soroush Publication, 1996).
  • Revised and corrected translations.
  • Classified entries by date and translator.
  • Prepared entries for publication.

PUBLICATIONS

  • https://civilica.com/doc/2049431/ ﺧﻠﺨﺎﻟﯽ ، ﻧﺎزﯾﻼ ۲۰۲۴ .درﺳﯿﻮﯾﻠﯿﮑﺎٰ ﺗﺮﺟﻢ ھﯽ ﺗﺎرﯾﺦ طﺒﺮی از ﻣﻨﻈﺮ ﺗﺮﺟﻢ ھﭙﮋوھﯽ. ﻣﻨﺘﺸﺮ ﺷﺪه
  • Khalkhali, Nazila (2022). “Teaching Persian Worldwide: A Report about Teaching Persian as A Second Language.” Academia.edu (Author)
  • Khalkhali, Nazila & Nooshin Boroumand (2017) Farsi Professional Proficiency Training Program (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced Level). Canada, Ottawa, The Canadian Foreign Service Institute (CFSI). (Co-author)
  • Khalkhali, Nazila (2017). La lecture moderne des inscriptions achéménides : la traduction comme identité culturelle. Allemende, Éditions Universitaires Européennes. (Author)
  • Khalkhali, Nazila (2021). La lecture moderne des inscriptions achéménides : la traduction comme identité culturelle. Generis Publication (Author)• Annie Brisset & Nazila Khalkhali. (2009). “Quand l’altérité revient au même : la Perse antique et ses traductions dans l’Iran moderne”. Recherches sémiotiques/ Semiotic Inquiry. Vol. 29 (n. 2-3). Association canadienne de sémiotique/Canadian Semiotic Association.
  • (Co-author)• Crystal, David. (2015). (Translator) The Cambridge . داﻧﺶ ﻧﺎﻣﮭ ی زﺑﺎن ﻓﺎرﺳﯽ( ( Encyclopedia of Language
  • Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. I translated this book from 2000 to 2006; currently, I am awaiting permission to publish in Iran. (Translator)
  • ﮐﺘﯿﺒﮭ ھﺎی ( Lecoq, Pierre. (1997). Les inscriptions de la Persée achéménide • )traduites du... (Translator ) ھﺨﺎﻣﻨﺸﯽ
  • Vieux perse, de l'élamite, du babylonien et de l'araméen, Paris : Gallimard, c1997, from French to Persian (Tehran : Farzan Rooz Publishers & Iran Heritage Foundation, 2004) (Translator)
  • Encyclopedia of Democracy. Tehran: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, 2005. I was part of the translation team from 2001 to 2005, which translated the encyclopedia from English to Persian. (Translation team member)
  • Saussure, Ferdinand de. (Translator) (1981) Cours de la Linguistique Générale (درﺳﮭﺎی زﺑﺎن ﺷﻨﺎﺳﯽ ھﻤﮕﺎﻧﯽ). Édition critique préparée par Tullio de Mauro. Paris: Payot, 1981, from French to Persian (Farzan Rooz Publisher, Tehran, 2003). (Translator)
  • Bourneuf, Roland & Réal Ouellet. (1972). L’Univers du roman • Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, (translated from French to Persian, Tehran: Nashr-e Markaz Publication, 2003).
  • Dictionnaire des œuvres contemporaines de tous les pays : littérature, 1996 ( ))ﻓﺮھﻨﮓ آﺛﺎر ,philosophie, musique, sciences (Paris : Laffont-Bompiani Tehran: Soroush Publication, 1996) (Translation and editorial team member)

RESEARCH AND LECTURES

  • Ronak Association of Ottawa: Since 2018, has led the launch of the association and invited scholars to discuss Iranian Studies.
  • Review of Iranian Literature (2024- present) on Clubhouse, presenting analyses of Iranian literature from the perspective of translation studies.
  • Podcaster: PichoKham (Winding Road). (2018 - present). I have discussed travelogues as a literary genre and presented readings of historical travel diaries.
  • Podcaster: @Amouzesh_e_zaban_e_farsi_dar Jahan (Teaching Persian as a Heritage Language Worldwide). This podcast addresses the challenges of teaching Persian globally, featuring interviews with teachers. Findings were presented at the Conferences, including on Teaching Persian Language & Literature (December 2021), AIS Salamanca (2022), and AIS Mexico City(2024).
  • Podcasts on Cultural Topics (2018–2020): Delivered lectures on CKCU FM covering topics such as travel diaries, literature and its translations, and various calendars.
  • Iranian Studies and Persian Literature Lecturer (2012–2021, Iranian Students Association, University of Ottawa, Canada). Delivered lectures on Iranian Studies, Persian Literature, Iranian languages and culture, and introduced scholars in the field in both Persian and English.
  • La lecture moderne des inscriptions achéménides. The most recent research (2008–2011) examines Archaeological Translation, a previously unexplored field. The study investigates the decipherment and translation of cuneiform texts into European languages, their subsequent back-translation into Persian, and their impact on Iranian society since the early twentieth century. I. Published by Generis Publications, January 2021, II. Les Éditions Universitaires Européennes 2017, III. Presented the paper at the International Studies of Iranian Studies in Montreal, Canada, 2014. IV. Association of Translators of America Conference in San Diego (October 27th, 2012). V. Extended the idea of the research in a Conference organized by the American Association and the Interpreting Studies Association (ATISA) at New York University, USA (2010) VI. Published in Semantic Inquiry/Recherche semantic Review: Annie Brisset & Nazila Khalkhali.« Quand l’altérité revient au même : la Perse antique et ses traductions dans l’Iran moderne. » Rev. Semantic Inquiry/Recherche semantique. Vol 29 (2009). VII. Presented it in the Association. Presented the first idea about this type of Translation at a Conference at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (2009)
  • A Scientific Approach to the Persian Writing System (ﺑﺮرﺳﯽ ﻋﻠﻤﯽ ﺷﯿﻮه ی ﺧﻂ ﻓﺎرﺳﯽ)1993-1995. I. This research studied the Persian writing system both diachronically and synchronically, offering recommendations for reform. II. The Academy of Persian Literature subsequently endorsed the recommendations. III. and Language: IV. Published by Qoqnus Publication (1996) V. Nominated for the best research project by the Academy of Persian Language and Literature in Tehran (1997)

Support Our Mission

Ronak Association is dedicated to preserving the Persian language, sharing cultural heritage, and connecting communities worldwide. Your support helps us create educational resources, publish research, and keep our podcasts and lectures accessible for everyone.

Donate Now